Links for your personal enrichment
and edification...

http://www.reenactorpost.com
A blog about reenactors, for reenactors. 
A great site by JB!

http://www.theeasternfront.co.uk/Infantry/
german/germaninfantryweapons.htm
This is a great site for German and Russian
weapons info and many other links, too.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Volkssturm/
How could we not have mentioned this one
sooner?  Group members only.

http://hjandvolksturm.devhub.com/blog/2009/07/17/
history-of-the-german-ww-ii-volkssturm
A fantastic historical piece on the Volkssturm.
Unparalleled information.  Reference links here.

http://www.feldgrau.com

An excellent source of information on the
German military covering 1919 to 1945.

http://www.ccnnmontebello.com
30a CC. NN "Montebello" Battaglione D'Assalto
A WWII Italian Reenactment Organization representing the 30a Blackshirt Legion, the elite "M" Battalion.  This is a non-political site dedicated strictly to history.

Visit Volkssturm Reenactors on Facebook.

The home guard....Volkssturm

What is appropriate attire for your Volkssturm impression?

You will occasionally find the Volkssturmmann well outfitted but this was usually not the case.  Many Volkssturm were dressed in their everyday civilian attire or work clothes with an armband designating them as members of the Deutscher Volkssturm Wehrmacht.  The enemy will offer you no quarter and you will be shot on site as a partisan without it!

Your civilian attire should be period appropriate and European in style and fit.  Remember, it's 1944-45 and you would likely have some clothes in your closet from the mid to latter part of the 30's as well.  People weren't as quick to throw things as we are today. 

Volkssturm men came from many walks of life: firefighters, air raid protection police, tradesmen, railway officials and workers, business merchants and shop owners, farmers, cooks and bakers, etc.  Your civilian attire can reflect this.  Keep in mind this is Germany, so when I say Euro, keep this in mind.  Let's represent accurately.  Don't for get the armband!

Those who were fortunate enough to have been issued military uniforms, often but not always, received seconds and mismatched items.  This doesn't mean you can throw anything together.  Try to look like a citizen soldier.  As a member of 40/15 you will have the option to kit yourself out in military uniform and equipment but remember, spartan is better.  These guys weren't well equipped.  Ludwig and I went into battle one night with one rifle and 15 rounds between us...this was more often the case.  The general rule for uniforms was for the shoulder boards, breast or sleeve eagles and hat bevos to be removed.  Some Volkssturm preferred to leave these in place if for nothing more than morale and pride.  

Zugfuhrer Franz Dekker of 1 Kp. can guide you in your kit and attire.  He has been helpful to me.  We can offer you some ideas of what to look for and where to find it.


Weapons of our Volkssturm

Mausers of German and Czech origin
Carcano models of various types
Mosin Nagant and PPSH captures
MAB (Moschetto Automatico Beretta) 1938A
MP40 and MP3008
P38 and various 7.65's
M24 Stick grenades
and the dreaded
-Panzerfaust -

All weapons are of WWII and pre-war vintage.

Volkssturm Kaiserslautern needs you!
 
Recruiting all able-bodied men 16-60+   

Membership is free at this time.  We are located on the east coast of the United States and within easy reach of the Middle-Atlantic States. 

Adult membership:
Over 18 and able to legally possess a firearm.

Jugend membership:
16-18.  Must be sponsored by a legal guardian and member.  Living History is open, Tacticals will be restricted.

Guest membership:
Individuals registered with another unit visiting our area and wishing to attend an event as a member of our unit.  A $5.00 per event fee applies in addition to event cost.

For historical accuracy, we will not be accepting memberships of those under the age of 16 even though some Hitler Youth were to be found mixed amongst the ranks in the latter stages of the war.





Deutscher Volkssturm Wehrmacht
Gau Westmark

Gauleiter Willi Stohr

Bataillonsfuhrer Wilhelm Goff
"Kaiserslautern"
40/15

1. Kompanie
NY, NJ, Eastern PA, DE, and Northeastern MD
Zugfuhrer Franz Dekker
Gruppenfuhrer Ludwig Schultz

2. Kompanie
WV, OH, and Western regions of PA, MD, & VA
Zugfuhrer Jakob Froschauer
Gruppenfuhrer Hellmut Heudtlass


Preferred Vendors